Grain washer and drier



4 Sheets-Sheet /Ny/.e-Nro@ y@ C W rmPA/fys T. C. MANNING GRAIN WASHERAND DRIER Filed Feb. ll, 1927 .I an. 8, 1929.

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IDOOOIIIIIGI t Jan. 8, 1929. 1,697,875

T. C. MANNING GRAIN WASHER AND DRIER Filed Feb. ll, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet2 o I 13 l a o O a o f6 -c "c5 o L77/ Lyy i o 3 o O O O O F |Q Q Q 2 QvENToR JM@ 'l @ATTORNEYS Jan. 8, 1929.

' T. c. MANNING GRAIN WASHER AND DRIER- Filed Feb. ll, 1927 4Sheets-Sheet l I l ',Q Q 2 .P 9

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T. C. MANNING GRAIN WASHER AND DRIER Filed Feb. 11, 1927 4 sheets-sheet4 INVENTOF? Patent dan. l929.

TIMOTHY C. MANNING, OF OMAHA, NEBRAS.

GRAIN WASHER AND DRIER.

Application led February 11, 1927. lSerial No. 167,485.

This invention relates to a machine for cleaning and drying grain andmore particularly to al machine adapted toremove dirt, smut spores,nematode gall dust. and other injurious substances from Wheat berriesand thereby prepare the same for the subsequent operations of millingthe grain into liour.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a machine of thischaracter which will moisten, thoroughly clean and dry the wheat with aminimum addition to the water content of the wheat berries, and in whichthe percentage of water added can be accurately controlled.

A further object is to provide al simple, efiicient and inexpensivemachine of this character which thoroughly cleans a continuous flow ofgrain passing through the same.

A further aim is to provide means for uniformly moisteninv the stream ofwheat flowing into the mac line, and uniformly clean and dry the same,thereby providing wheat of uniform quality in these respects.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a machine embodying myinvention showing'portions thereof broken away. Figure 2 is a verticaltransverse section taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1. Figure 3 is a verticaltransverse section taken on line 3 3, Fig. 1. Figure 4 is a verticallongitudinal sectional view of the grain moistening chute. Figure 5 isan end View thereof showing a portion broken away. Figure 6 is an endView, on a reduced scale, of the grain cleaning and drying machine.

The moistening, cleaning and drying mechanism is supported on'a framewhich may be of any well known and approved construction and as shown inthe drawings comprises four upright legs or standards 7; upper end crossbars 8 preferably made of two angle bars riveted to opposite sides offish plates 9 which connect the legs and these bars; a lower cross bar10; upper longitudinal bars 11 and lower longitudinal bars 12 secured attheir ends to the legs 7, and suitable bracing bars 13 between the legsand the lower longitudinal bars 12.

Within this frame are arranged a foraminous cleaning cylinder14 ofrelatively small diameter, and a coaxial foraminous drying cylinder 15of relatively large diameter, these cylinders being supported on thelower longitudinal frame bars 12 by an intermediate head 16, an end head17 arranged at the outer end of the smaller cleaning cylinder 14, andan. end head 18 supporting the outer end of the larger dryi cylinder 15.Each of these heads is preferal ly of circular form and is provided withintegrally cast legs 19 which are bolted to the upper side of the lowerlon-I gitudinal frame bars 12 in the case of the heads 16 and 18 and tothe lower cross bar 10 in the case of the head 17.

The foraminous drying rcylinder 15 as shown in the drawings is'composedof ive sections or segments each of which comprises a curved perforatedplate 20,- to the longitudinal edges of each of which angle irons 22 aresecured, the corresponding angle irons of the section being adapted tobe bolted together, and draw the several sections against annular beads23 formed on the inner side of the end head 18 and the opposing side ofthe intermediate head 16. These two cylinder heads 16 and 18 arepreferably rigidly secured together by tie rods 24 arranged exteriorly of the cylinder sections.

The cleaning drum is composed of a Similar number of cylinder sections25 similarly supported within a plurality of annularl disposed tie rods26 upon annularl bea-ds 2 provided on the heads 16 and 17 These cyltheirentire extent, but vare perforatedonly at their inner` ends,the"outelrlends forming an imperforate cylinder 28'` for a purpose which willpresently appear,"a`n'd each ofthe angle bars 29 by 'which the severalsections 85. inder'sections 25 are not, however, perforated desiredportion of the inner erforated end of the section, and thereby ajustably vary the effective area of' the cylinder.

The moistened grain is introduced intothe the cleaning', cylinderthrough a grain Inlet opening 35 provided in the end head 17, and isthence carried through the cleaning cylinder and through a triangularopening 36 dprovided in the upper part of the interme ate o linder head16 into the drying cylinder 15.

he cleaned grain is carried through the drying cylinder, and whencompletely dried 1s discharged through a dischar e'opening. 37

rovided in the end head 18, t e gram being directed into a suitablechute or conveyer (not shown) by a spout 38. y

The mechanism within thevforammous cylinders for cleaning, drying andconveying the moistened rain is carried by a longitudinal shaft 40 w ichis journaled in ball bearlngs 41, which bearings are bolted to the uppersides of the upper transverse frame bars 8. This shaft may be driven inany suitable manner as by a pulley 42. On this shaft within the cleaningcylinder is arranged a drum' 43 composed of end heads 39 having aplurality of radially outwardly projecting spaced lugs 44, and a sheetmeta cylinder secured between these heads. On this drum are obliquelymounted a plurality of vanes or blades 46 which extend the entire lengthof the drum and are adapted to engage the moist grain at the bottom ofthe cylinder, and carry it around the inner surface of the cleaningcylinder and also move it toward the intermediate head 16 and into thedrying cylinder. For this purpose the blades 46 are'S-shaped and areformed to conform to the curvature of the drum, and are secured at theirends in any suitable manner to the spaced lugs 43 provided on each ofthe drum heads. These blades are preferably given substantial pitch ingadditional blades should this become necessary or desirable in operatingon any particular kind of grain. The outer edge of each of the blades isarranged close to the inner surface of the cylinder, and the moist grainis forced around the perforated surface thereby loosening the dirt,smut, gall 'dust and other impurities which are forced out through theerforations and drop from the cylinder. he grain, while being carriedaround the cylinder, is also shifted lengthwise thereof toward theintermediate head 16, where it is elevated by the inner extremities ofthe blades and passes through the triangular opening 36 in the upperpart of the intermediatefhead 16 and into the inner end of the dryingcylinder 15. i

Within -the drying cylinder a drum is mounted onthe shaft 40, this drumbeing reason of larger than the drum 47 in the cleaning der and beingcomposed of similar en heads 48 having outwardl extending spaced lugs 49and a central cylin rical section 50 secured to the end heads. To theselugs 49 are suitably secured bars 51 which extend lon 'tudinally of thedrum and preferabl extend eyond the ends of the same. Eac of these barsis formed with a plurality of outwardly projecting beaters or wings 52which are arranged obliquely relative to the line of travel and theouter ed es of these beaters are arranged close to t e inner ksurface ofthe foraminous cleaning cylinder. By reason of lthe greater diameter ofthis drum, the beaters travel at a higher speed than the blades or vanesof the cleaning drum and consequently upon engaging the grain, throw therain forcibly a ainst the inner surface of the rum, and rapid y carry itaround the inner surface of the same thereby beating and forcing anyremainin moisture out of the grain and through t e lperforations in thecylinder. By t e oblique arrangement of the beaters, the grain is alsoshifted longitudinally along the cylinder and finally discharged throughthe discharge spout 38.

Means are provided for uniformly moistening the ain before it passesinto the cleaning cyllnder, which mea s permit of accylin-I curatelycontrolling the amount of water added and are preferably constructed asfolows:

At the inlet end of the machine is mounte a Vertical chute 53 having anopen upper end 54 adapted to receive uncleaned grain from any suitablesource and an inclined lower end 55 which dischargesvinto the graininlet opening 35 in the end head 17 of the cleaning cylinder. This Chuteis preferably square in cross section and alternately on opposite sidesare mounted a plurality of inwardly extending, inclined bailles orshelves 56 .which force the stream of grain to take a staggered paththrough the chute, the grain being alternately deflected from side toside by the alternating baiiles. Immediately below the lower or innerend lof the uppermost bafe 56, a water pipe 57 passes through the chute,and this water pipe is connected to a similar horizontal water pipe 58passing through the chute immediately below the next lower baille by avertical pipe 59. The lower water pipe is capped and water underpressure is supplied to these pipes from a main 60, the amount of watersupplied being controlled by a valve 61. v

Each of these pi'pesis provided with a longitudinal upper row or seriesof ports 62 which extend upwardly at an angle` and are ladapted to..direct sprays of water against the underside of the stream of wheatflowing over the lower end of the ballie,'and a lower row of ports 63which direct sprays of water against the upper side of the stream ofwheat mener@ iiowing over the next lower bae. By this means the grain isthoroughly moistened on all sides two successive times and the Wheat isuniformly moistened throughout.

The addition of water can be accurately regulated by the valve 61, andthe amount of water taken out can be regulated by shifting the slides 33so as to cover a greater or lesser extent of the perforated area of thecleaning cylinder and thereby decrease or increase its ei'ectivedraining capacity, the effective extent of the perforated area being, inall positions of the slides or shutter,.sulicient to remove all of thesmut, gall dust, dirt and other impurities from the grain. rIhis controlof both the addition and the removal of the water permits ofinterregulation at both ends of the process and consequently securingthe optimum result. In actual practice this machine will meisten, cleanand dry smutty and dirty grain with the addition of less than one-halfof one per cent to the water content thereof.

To completely enclose and guard the washing and drying mechanism, asectional sheet metal casing is provided which includes end wallssuitably secured to the end frame bars and reinforced by suitable angleirons, two upper curved sections 66 connected by hinges67 and restingvon the upper side of the reinforced end walls 65, removable curvedpanels 68 resting on the upper longitudinal frame bars 11 and the endwalls 65 and held by latches 69 against the upper hinged sections 66,and vertical panels 70y removably secured to and closing the spacesbetween the upper and lower longitudinal frame bars 11 and 12.

The under side of the mechanism is enclosed by a pairl of horizontaltroughs 71 which receive the water and impurities which fall from theforaminous drying and cleaning cylinders. Preferably two of such troughsare provided and each comprises inclined sheet metal side walls 72 whichare connected at their lower ends to a bottom portion 73 which issemi-circular in cross4 section and contains a conveying screw 7 4. Thecorresponding upper ends of the troughs are joined together to form acentral apex, and the outer edges thereof are suitably secured to thelongitudinal frame bars 11, and the ends of each trough are closed bythe end walls 65 and braced by a cross bar 75. The conveying screws 74are adapted to move the impurities lengthwise of the trough and as showncomprise longitudinal shafts 76 journaled in suitable bearings at theends of the troughs and carrying the usual convolute screw blades 77.Each of these, shafts is turned by a sprocket 78 arranged at the intakeend of the machine which is driven from other suitable driving means maybe provi ed. Each of the screws is adapted to convey the impuritiestoward the discharge end of the machine where the same pass throughdischarge outlets 82.

As a whole this invention is very simple in construction and operationconsidering the function which it performs and it operates to thoroughlyand uniformly moisten, clean and dry the grain with a mlnimum additionto the water content thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine of the character described, a foraminous cleaningcylinder receiving the ranged coaxially of said cleaning c linder, ashaft eirtending through said cylin er, a plurality of obliquely disosed vanes carried by said shaft and, extending substantially the fulllength of said drying cylinder, said vanes being adapted to carry thegrain around the inner surface of said cylinder and also move itlongitudinally into said .drying cylinder, aplurality of obliquelydisposed beaters carried by said shaft, said beaters being adapted toengage the grain and shift it longitudinally along the drying cylinder,and means for discharging the cleaned and dried grain from said dryingcylinder.

2. In a machine of the character described, a foraminous cleaningcylinder provided wit-.h

a suitable belt tight/ener 81, although an grain, a foraminous dryingcylinder ara grain intake o ening, a coaxially disposed foraminousdrying cylinder, a `head lnterposed between the corresponding ends ofsaid cylinders, said headhaving an opening in its upper part, a shaftextending through said cylinders, a plurality of obliquely disposedvanes carried b said shaft and extending substantially the' ull lengthof said cleaning cylinder, said vanes being adapted to carry the grainaround the inner surface of said cleaning cylinder and also move itlongitudinally through said opening into said drying cylinder, aplurality of obliquely disposed beaters carried by said shaft, saidbeaters being adapted to engage the grain and shift it longitudinallyalong the drying cylinder, and means for discharging the cleaned anddried grain from said drying cylinder.

3. In a machine of the character described, a foraminous cleaningcylinder, a foraminous drying cylinder, a head interposed between thecorresponding ends of said cylinders, said head having an opening in itsupper part, a head arranged at the outer end of said cleaning cylinderand provided with a grain intake opening, a head arranged at the outerend of said drying cylinder and provided with a grain discharge opening,a drum rotatably mounted in said grain cleaning cylinder, a plurality ofobliquely disposed vanes carried' by said drum and extendingsubstantially the full length thereof, said vanes being adapted to carrythe grain around the i11- llO ner surfaceof said cleaning cylinder andalso move it longitudinally through the o ening of said intermediatehead into said rying cylinder, a second drum rotatabl mounted in saiddrying cylinder, and a p urality of obliquely disposed beaters mountedon said last named drum, said beaters being adapted to engage the grainand shift it longitudinally along said drying cylinder through saiddischarge opening.

4. In a machine of the character described, a foraminous cleaning`cylinder of relatively small diameter, a foraminous drying cylinder ofrelatively large diameter,a shaft extending through said cylinders, arelatively small drum mounted on said shaft Within said cleaningcylinder, a relatively large drum mounted on said shaft within saiddrying cylinder, means for feeding moistened grain into said cleaningcylinder, vanes carried by said small cylinder, said vanes being adaptedto carry ,the grain around the inner surface of said cleaning cylinderand also Y l means for moistening the shift it-longitudinally into saiddrying cylinder, beaters carried by vsaid large drum, an

means for discharging thegrain from the drying cylinder.

5. In a machine of the character described, ain, a foraminous cleaningcylinder receiving the moistened grain, rotatable means arranged in saidcylinder for carrying said grain around the inner surface of saidcylinder, and means for adjustably covering a' portion of sald cylinderfor varying its effective extent.

6. In a machine of the character described, means for moistening thegrain, a cylinder receiving the moistened grain, one end of saidcylinder being foraminous andthe other end imperforate, rotatable meansvarranged in said cylinder for carrying thev grain around the innersurface of said cylinder, and means for varying the effective extent ofthe foraminous portion comprising a shutter longitudinally movable oversaid imperforate and foraminous portions.

7. In a machine of the character described, means for moistening thegrain, a cylinder receiving the moistened grain and including a numberof sections one end'of each of which sections is foraminous at one endand imperforate at the other and is formed at its edges to providechannels, rotatable means arranged in said cylinder for carrying thegrain around the inner surfaces of said sections, and means for 'varyingthe effective extent of the foraminous portions of said sectionsincluding shutters having their opposite edges arranged in saidchannels, and said shutters being Alongitudinally movable over saidimperforate and foraminous portions.

' 8. A machine of the character described, in-

cluding a foraminou's cleaning cylinder receiving the grain to becleaned, a foraminous drying cylinder, said cylinders being arranged endto end and being coaxially disposed, a shaft extending longitudlnallyithrough said cylinders, a lurality of obliqueder, said .beaters beingadapted to shift the Orain longitudinally along said drying c lnder anddischarge it therefrom. y

9. A machine of the character described,

including a foraminous cleaning cylinder resoA ceiving the grain to becleaned, said cleaning cylinder being of relatively small diameter, afora-minous drying cylinder of relatively lail'ge diameter, saidcylinders bein arranl ed en agi to end and being coaxially spose a shaftextending longitudinally through said cylinders, av (plrality ofobliquely `disposed y vanes carrie' said shaft and extendingsubstantially the full length of said cleaning cylinder, said vanescooperating with said cleaning cylinder to shift the grainlongitudinally into said dryin cylinder, and a plurality of beaterscarrie by said shaft and arranged within said drying cylinder, saidbeaters cooperating with said drying cylinder to shift the grainlongitudinally ltherefrom. l

10. A machine of the character described, including a foramincuscleaning cylinder, a foraminous dr ing cylinder, said cylinders beingarran e end to end and being coaxially dispose an end head for each ofsaid cylinders, an intermediate head between said cylinders, a shaftextending longitudinally through said cylinders, a grain inlet in theend head of said cleaning cy1inder,a transfer opening in the upper partof the intermediate head and a grain outlet in the end head of saiddrying cylinder, obliquel disposed vanes carried by said shaft anextending substantially the full length of said cleanin` cylinder, saidvanes being adapted to shift the grain longitudinally along saidcleaningcylinder and throu h said transfer opening, and a plurality obeaters carried by said shaft and `cooperating to shift said grain alongsaid drying cylinder and through said` outlet. 1

11. In a machine of the character described, a foraminous cleaningcylinder, a foraminousdrying cylinder, a head interposed between thecorresponding ends'of said cylinders, said head having an opening, ahead arranged at the outer end of said cleanin cylinder and providedwith a grain inta e opening, a head arranged at the outer end of saiddrying cylinder and provided with a grain 'scharge opening, rotatableconveying means arranged in said cleaning ing cylinder, said beatingmeans cooperating cylinder and cooperating to carry the grain to engagethe grain and shift it longitudiaround the inner surfacel of saidcleaning nally along said drying cylinder through said 10 cylinder andalso to move it longitudinally discharge opening.

through the opening in said intermediate In testimony whereof I herebyaliiX my head into said drying cylinder, and rotatable signature. l

beating means'rotatably'mounted in said dry- TIMOTHY C. MANNTNG.

